The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-07-15

kjns assures me that he hasn't lived
with any of them. He has the face of
an honest, steady man; and he tells
me that he is willing to learn"
Mrs. Madison gave mock grOan, "
That means that | am willing to
teach said she.
"And are we TO have the BellingerS
on the 18th? asked Sylvia.
BY all means, said her brOtheT-in-
law. And so the conversation ended.
The next day, it being the lst of the
month, promptly at the hour agreed
upon, John ParkinS presented himself
to the lady of the house, with modest
dcferential bearing which was quite
delightful He was a strappng fellow
about thirty, dressed in worn but we'll
cut garments. His features were rather
handsome, and his smoOth-Shavcn
upper lip showed at times glimpse OF
very good teeth.
1T is not our custom to engage any
one without q reference, said Mrs.
Madison. 1--WE are placing great con-
fidence in YOU in taking you like this
into our house"
Il am aware of that, ma 'm," said
Parkins. II am very thankful for your
kindness. hope / shall suit YOU
Il hope so, said Mrs. Madison. in
tone which limited that the hope was
forlorn one.
Have you had much experience in
waiting at table?"
Not much, ma am" said Parkins.
May l ask where you have lived
laSt?"
The man hesitated for a moment.
"On a ranch, ma am. - he said, with
a slight air of being unwilling to pursue
the subject further Then he added,
with more aiacrity,-
Il was servant to gentleman out il
Wyoming
"Ah"' said Mrs. Madison.
She had rather intended to bully
John Parkins, but somehow the manner
of the man forbade it.
Having this unnrcountable feeling that
further inveStig ,.urS would be almost
an impertinence, she proceeded to in.
struct the new butler as to what woult
henceforth Gv expected vi him.
He showed great alacrity,-zeal moi
according to knowledge. But in spite
of a few awkwardnesses on his part he
produced favorable impression on his
new mistress.
Dinner that day passed off remarka-
bly, well, considering that Parkens was
rather nervous, as servants are apt tC
be in new places.
Miss Arden could not help admiring
his personal appearance and gentle
manly manner, and Mr.. Madison sat at
the head of the table, smiling blandly
and full of elation at the success of his
last venture.
When dinner was over, Mrs. Madison
entered the pantry to ascertain how
the new functionary was behaving.
She was surprised to see a row of wet
plates standing ALL round the room,
leaning their backs against the wall.
why, Parkins, what are you doing
with those plates?" she cried.
The Englishman regarded her with
a deprecator" air.
II was tting them dry a bit,
Ina' am, " he said. Have done wrongP"
Certainly" said Mrs. Madison.
''The towels in the drawer are for dry,
the china
Parkins blushed so.brightly that she
really pitied him.
Beg pardon, ma am" he STAN.
mered, "but you see man gets so
awfully rough in the West, ma am.
We hadn't many towels on the ranch.
Thank you ma am. I'll use them in
future. I'm very anxious to learn. y
The drawing-room was henceforth
entertained with the pantry episodes,
of which this was the beginning.
In the main, however. ParkiEs gave
satisfaction. He was sober, diligent,
almost chIvalrous in his attention to
the wants of the ladies.
The defects in his education as but
Ter were soon remedied, for Mrs. Mad
ison was an excellent housekeeper and
was willing to take untold trouble to
instruct any one who was teachable.
The fresh, handsome face of Parkins
his respectful and manly bearing, and
his charming English accent, which
was evidently not that of cockney,
ingratiated him with his employers and
even their acquaintance.
Occasionally new book or paper
was missing from the sitting-room,
and more than once it was found in the
pantry among the rouge-c cloths and
plate-powder. In one case the missing
volume was one Of Leoky's, and Miss
Arden, who had searched in vain,
asked Parkins if he had seen it. He
confessed to having borrowed Ii; and
when Sylvia looked at him with obyi-
GUS surprise, he made some confused
remark about "bettering his educa-
tion. =
IF he can appreciate that book,
said Miss Arden afterwards to her sis-
ter, his education dosen't need much
bettering.''
One evening, when John Parkins